HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin-08Aug13Regular Meeting of the Falcon Heights City Council
Minutes of August 13, 2008
Members present: Council members Harris, Kuettel, and Long, Administrator Miller, Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk Kreuser. Members absent: Mayor Lindstrom and Council member
Mercer-Taylor.
In Mayor Lindstrom’s absence, Council member Kuettel acted as mayor.
Council member Kuettel called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Presentations:
Mark Doneaux and Pat Conrad from the Capital Region Watershed District presented to the council the district’s new management planning process and asked for the city’s help in appointing
a member of the Falcon Heights community to work with the district on that committee.
Council member Kuettel asked if Troutbrook was akin to having a turn back from the county on a road that was in ill repair. Doneaux chuckled and said it could be looked at like that.
Kuettel asked how storm water problems are identified along the district. Doneaux replied they used an engineering model to determine flow patterns, and that is how the district is
able to come up with alternative solutions for run-off (like rain gardens, ponds, etc.)
Council member Long asked what background the volunteers should have. Doneaux replied any interested citizen could be a part of the group, but mentioned interest in Planning Commissioners
or someone with planning expertise. He stressed the district is looking for a diverse group. He added there would be three or four meetings for each topic in the hopes of facilitating
attendance.
Administrator Miller said there were some grant opportunities within the district the city is hoping to secure for the parking lot project. More information will be passed on as it
becomes available. In response to Council member Kuettel, Miller added all driveways in the city are required to be impervious, but the pervious pavement project with the parking lot
will determine if it should be applied citywide.
The minutes of the July 23, 2008 council meeting were approved as corrected by Council member Kuettel. Council member Long moved to approve the corrected minutes. The motion passed
unanimously.
Consent Agenda:
Council member Kuettel asked Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk Kreuser to explain the ballot board resolution. Kreuser stated the ballot board would meet a few days before the
election to determine whether the absentee ballots that came in were complete, and would be able to accept or reject them before Election Day, but no ballots would be counted beforehand.
The council then read aloud the names of the election judges for 2008. Miller explained resolution 08-09 was simply to clean up language in the statutes.
Council member Harris moved to approve the consent agenda. Council member Long requested the election resolutions be approved separately, citing his wife was a judge and he would abstain
from the vote. Council member Harris moved to approve the consent agenda,
except for those resolutions, the motion passed 3-0. Council members Harris and Kuettel approved resolutions 08-07 and 08-08 with Council member Long abstaining.
1. General Disbursements through 8/7/08: $103,484.93
Payroll through 7/31/08: $20,697.81
2. City Licensing
3. Resolutions 08-07 creating ballot board and 08-08 appointing election judges
4. Resolution Approving Repeal of State Statutes Pertaining to Fire
Department Relief Association
Approval of Fire Department Relief Association 2007 Audit
Policy Agenda:
1. Purchase of Pedestrian Crossing Signals
Administrator Miller explained the pedestrian-activated signals would create a safer crossing for the heavily used intersection of Hamline/Garden. The initial agreement was with Roseville
to go 50/50 on the installation costs. Miller said Roseville had notified him it was not in the budget for ’08, but he said that Falcon Heights still maintained how worthwhile the project
was and was still planning to go ahead with it. He stated earlier that day Roseville had contacted him and Roseville had found the money to cover 50% and it would go to council for
approval in the next week. Miller asked the council for the full amount of $6,000 however, just in case the deal with Roseville falls through. He said the cities aim for a September
2008 installation.
Council member Kuettel commented on FH Elementary’s decision to allow bikes, and noted that with all the construction detours there would be a lot of pedestrian traffic using the signals.
Council member Long moved to approve the purchase of pedestrian crossing signals. The motion passed unanimously.
Information/Announcements:
Council member Long thanked the community for its support of the Ice Cream Social, thanked Tim, Lisa, Dave and the staff, the business contributions, and to the volunteers. He said
fall and winter parks/rec registration is open. September 7 is Falcon Heights Day at the U Women’s Soccer game. Residents will get free admission and kids can take part in a clinic
and play at half time.
Administrator Miller announced the city banner installation had begun along Larpenteur Avenue, and will be all up for the fair that begins Aug 21.
Community Forum:
Bryan Olson, 1592 Roselawn, quoted the Roseville Shopper where Council member Kuettel and Mayor Lindstrom were referenced regarding high voter turnout in Ramsey County. The councilors
had stated Falcon Heights had the highest voter turnout among Ramsey County cities. Olson cited the last city council election in 2007, where the city had a 31% turnout – lower than
White Bear Lake at 43%. He said in Ramsey County only six cities have odd-year elections, and the turnout varies widely by election. He chided the council for not explaining those
comments more fully. Olson also took issue with Falcon Heights being listed as one of the 100 Best Educated cities in the nation, pointing out that with a small population, it would
surely be near the top of the list. He called it silly. Lastly, Olson thought some of the slogan ideas were funny and pointed out some made fun of Roseville. He said that without
Roseville Falcon Heights would die due to the number of partnerships. He said people needed to listen carefully to what people say.
Council member Kuettel adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacey Kreuser
Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk